Importance of selenium

Importance of Iron

Importance of Calcium in daily diet

Importance of Vitamin C

Importance of vitamin A

National Nutrition week 2017- Sweeteners

Happy National Nutrition week to all the viewers of this blog.

Friends, every year National Nutrition week is celebrated to create awareness regarding components of diet, nutrition and their effect on health and wellness.

Use of sweeteners are very common among today's population, but they don't know the illeffects of excess use of sweeteners.

Kindly click the below link and update yourself with illeffects of sweeteners
https://youtu.be/F4rjmPcRVD0

Scientific reasons: Why in Hindu temples charnamrit (holy water) is kept in copper vessel

From ancient times cooper is associated with spirituality. In different Hindu temples charnamrit (holy water) is kept in copper vessel. When anybody go into the temple they take charnamrit (holy water) from this copper vessel.

Has anyone tried out to find out why the charnamrit is kept in copper vessel only; not in steel or aluminium or any other metallic vessel, because copper has various health promoting effects. Our ancient saints (rishi-muni) knew these beneficial properties of copper, hence, they made decision to kept the charnamrit (holy water) in copper vessel only.

These are the scientific reasons behind this:-

1. Copper water regulates thyroid gland

2. It fight against anaemia and helps in iron absorption

3. It stimulates brain cells and promotes brain function

4. It helps in skin health

5. It aids digestion

6. It promotes faster recovery

7. It kills bacteria and unhealthy microbes

8. It aids in bone health and prevents Artharitis

9. It keeps the heart healthy

Dietary changes in summer season

Hello friends,

Winter season already said us bye-bye. Daily temperature keep rising up. In summer season heat stroke is common problem and many individuals get affected from the different symptoms of heat stroke.

In this summer if you slightly change your diet pattern and add some specific items in your diet, you can prevent yourself from the symptoms of heat stroke.

To know more about the "garmi ka khaan-paan" click on the below link.
https://youtu.be/XVtMVMt-MnU

Hello friends,
I created a channel on YouTube entitled "dietitian ki Salah". Please subscribe the channel to be updated for valuable information related to health and nutrition from time to time.

Below is my first video on this YouTube channel
https://youtu.be/o3_lIDexi6U

Risk factors of vitamin D deficiency

In my previous post, I talked about importance of vitamin D in human beings and how it is essential for various physiological and metabolic functions of body. Hence, if the amount of vitamin D decreases than normal it can hinder normal body functioning.

               

Therefore, Today I will inform you about the various risk factors of vitamin D deficiency which are as follows.

# Inadequate sun exposure.
# Heavy and regular use of sunscreens/ sunblocks.
# Increasing tendency to live in air conditioners.
# Old age of individual as their ability of vitamin D synthesis in skin decreases with age.
# Patients with renal disease, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease.
# Individuals having problem of fat metabolism and absorption have higher risk of vitamin D deficiency as vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin.
# Obesity.

Importance of vitamin D

Hello friends and followers click the below link and know about the importance of vitamin D.

https://youtu.be/iSE0S5nQYsA

Role of thyroid hormone in human body

Thyroid hormones play important role in human body. T3 and T4 hormones were produced through thyroid gland.

     .             
# They are essential for proper development and differentiation of cells of human body.

# They regulate the metabolism of micronutrients, i.e., protein, fat and carbohydrates (energy expenditure of cells).

# They influence protein synthesis and enhance the body's sensitivity to catecholamines and stimulate the formulation of RBCs to enhance the oxygen delivery.

Apart from these important functions thyroid hormone had several Physiological effects on the body.

# They cause an increase in basal metabolic rate.

# They are essential for normal growth in children.

# They exert a crucial effect on development on development  of fetal and neonatal brain by assisting in neural cell migration, differentiation and signaling.

# These hormones also exert crucial effects on cardiovascular, central reproductive and nervous system.

Production of T3 and T4 hormone is dependent on thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).

Excess or deficiency of thyroid hormone leads to clinical conditions known as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism which will be dealt in next time.

If you have any query/ question regarding this matter, ask me via your comments.

Live your life with Heart-wise

Heart is the main organ of body that circulate nutrients to whole body through blood circulation.
You become what you eat and what you do.

One's overall health not only indicate that he/she is free from diseases but it also indicate his/her physical fitness, mental ability and spiritual health.

To become physically healthy avoid junk and fatty food, eat healthy diet and do regular exercise.

Think positive for your mental well-being; pray and do meditation for your good spiritual health which overall keeps your heart healthy.

Grapes are not always sour

Grapes are one of the delicious fruits. They contain numerous health benefits due to their rich nutrient Profile.
Black grapes are rich source of antioxidants which are helpful in prevention of different diseases.

Several health benefits of grapes are as follows:-
# A research study indicated that grapes are helpful in prevention of breast cancer and heart attack. Juice of black grapes prevents the thrombosis of blood.
# Grape pulp is a rich source of glucose and sugar.
# Grapes work as an appetizer and maintain good digestion.
# They are also helpful in treatment of acne and pimples.
# If anybody wants to increase their haemoglobin level, he/ she should drink one glass grape juice daily.
# Daily intake of grape juice may be helpful in problem of migraine.
Daily intake of grapes may provide relief from arthritis. It also prevents ageing.

Due to their antioxidant contents, regular consumption of grapes may fight from various pathophysiological diseases  and make you healthy.
So, eat this mouth watering, delicious and healthy fruit daily and be healthy.

Hello friends,
We Khushboo Gupta and Monika Jain (my PhD supervisor) published a book entitled "Vridhaupayogi vyanjan (vridhajano ke liye upcharatmak Pak vidhiyan)" in Hindi language. As nutritionists, this book is our humble attempt to shatter the limits of the scientific field and reach out to the common man.

Older people are nutritionally vulnerable, hence, proper nutritious and healthy diet is needed for improvement of their quality of life. Through this book, we attempt to provide methods of various nutritious recipes which will be helpful in upliftment of Nutritional status of older people.

In India where our national language is Hindi, there is a scarcity of books in Hindi on Geriatric Nutrition (nutrition for elderly) and probably this one will fill the gap.

To all those followers and readers who have a library in their institution, please order a few copies of the book for the benefits of both the common man and professionals.

An activity 'walk-O-run' was organized by Heart-wise group in Kota, Rajasthan on 19th Feb,2017.

The purpose was to aware the common man about the benefits of walk and exercise in maintaining healthy life as well as how the intake of proper diet ( according to the therapeutic condition of the body) is necessary for a disease free, fit and prosperous life.

Have the glimpse of the activity

Musk melon seeds

Musk melon (Cucumis melo) seeds are particularly high in arginine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid.
It is rich in urease enzyme which is recommended for the treatment of cardiovascular disorder. Due to urease enzyme it is used as a diuretic, stomachic, antitussive and as a vermifuge.

Musk melon seeds are beneficial in chronic or acute eczema.

They are believed to help in regulating healthy blood-fat levels and provide vital nutrients essential for promoting wound healing.

Per 100 g of musk melon seeds contain 28.6 g protain, 49.7 g fat, 13.0 g carbohydrate and 4.8 g ash.

These seeds are rich sources of thiamine, riboflavin, calcium, magnisium, potassium, iron, zinc and phosphorus.

Milk extract of musk melon seeds contain 3.6% protein, 4.0% fat and 2.5% carbohydrates. these values are similar as soymilk.

Defatted flour of melon seeds (after extraction of milk) contain 39.4% protein, 24.7% fibre and 6.2% ash.

Hence, replenish your diet with either musk melon seeds, extract or flour and take enormous benefits of musk melon seeds.

Inulin - A prebiotic substance

Inulin, a polyfructan, occurs as a reserve carbohydrate in many plant families, representing more than 30,000 species. It is a potent substrate both for the production of inulinases and fructooligosaccharides. 

Inulin is a specific type of dietary fibre that is naturally found in hundreds of common foods such as leeks, asparagus, onions, garlic, bananas, wheat, rye and chicory root. 

Inulin has excellent nutritional and functional characteristics and can be used to replace fat, flour and sugar. 

Inulin may offer more health benefits than other fibres.

Health benefits of inulin-

• Inulin is part of a chain of bacteria that keeps your gut healthy and alleviates digestive problems. 

• Inulin helps digestion, prevents constipation, and keeps you regular.

• Because inulin is not digested, it does not affect glucose levels. This makes it an appropriate food for diabetics. 

• Inulin may boost calcium absorption.

Horse gram

Horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) or kulthi is one of the unexploited legume of the tropics and subtropics.

• It contain good amount of proteins.
• It has good macro (protein 22 g, carbohydrate 57 g, fibre 5.3 g) and micro nutrient (calcium 287 mg, phosphorus 311  mg, iron 7.6 mg, thiamine 218 mcg, riboflavin 192 mcg, sodium 46 mg, potassium 322 mg) content (per 100 g).
• It is considered as food with medicinal qualities in traditional Siddha medicine.
• It is prescribed for individuals suffering from jaundice or water retention and as a part of weight loss diet.
• Per 100 g horse gram contain 7.6 mg iron, hence, it is considered helpful for iron deficiencies.
•  Traditionally it was used as medicine to treat calculus afflictions, corpulence, hiccups, worms and kidney stone.
• Seeds of horse gram are astringent to the bowels, diuretic, antipyretic, tonic, anthelmic emmenagogul, appetizing and lithontriptic. these are useful in piles, tumors, bronchitis, heart troubles, spleen enlargement and asthma.
• It can be used in leucorrhoea, menstrual disorders, flatulence, cough, eye disease and urinary disease.

Despite being healthy and nutritious, this gram has remained an underutilized food. One can enrich his/her diet with horse gram and take benefits of its health and nutritional properties.

Antinutritional Factors and Legumes

Antinutrients are natural or synthetic compounds which interfere with the absorption of nutrients.

Legumes and whole pulses, i.e., cowpea, horse gram, bengal gram, red gram etc. contain some antinutritional factors.

Antinutritional factors are the chemical substances which although non toxic generate adverse physiological responses and interfere with the utilization of nutrients. 

Antinutritional factors are trypsin inhibitor, lectins, goitrogens, antivitamins, phytates, saponin, oestrogens, flatulence factors, allergens and lysinoalanine. Other antinutritional factors are cyanogens, favism factor, lathyrism factor, amylase inhibitors, tannins, aflatoxins and pressor amines. Most of the legumes and pulses contain few of antinutritional factors. 

Some antinutritional factors are heat labile and most of the humans consume legume after cooking, hence, it would not constitute any major health hazard. But other antinutritional factors, i.e., polyphenols and phytates are heat stable which are not easily removed by simple cooking.

Therefore, different processing techniques, i.e., soaking, germination, fermentation, boiling, blanching, dehulling, etc. are required  to reduce the amount of antinutritional factors. 

Application of different processing techniques on legumes/pulses not only reduce the antinutritional factors but also enhance the nutritional value of legumes by increasing amount of essential amino acids, B-vitamins and protein digestibility. These techniques cause important changes in biochemical, nutritional and sensory characteristics which positively affect the acceptability of food items produced from processed legumes or pulses.